Sustainable Management of Saline Ecosystems:

Challenges and Prospects for Lacu Sărat Brăila

Abstract

Land use monitoring is an essential tool for understanding landscape dynamics and assessing the ecological status of natural habitats, particularly in areas included in the European Natura 2000 network. In these territories, sustainable resource management depends on the ability to identify the spatial structure of habitats, the degree of fragmentation and the anthropogenic pressures that can influence fundamental ecological processes. In this respect, geospatial products from the Copernicus programme, such as CLCplus Backbone 2023, provide a solid analytical basis through their high resolution and standardised land-cover classification. Lacu Sărat – Brăila is a halophilic ecosystem of community importance, included in the Natura 2000 network, characterised by unique habitats, specialised biodiversity and natural resources with ecological and therapeutic value. In the context of climate change, anthropogenic pressures and regional hydrological changes, the site faces increased vulnerabilities. This article analyses the current state of biodiversity, emerging risks and the necessary directions for the sustainable management of the lake.